The first backcountry ski tour of the season is something to look forward to when temperatures start dropping and snow starts falling at higher elevations. Before you head into the mountains, it’s worth taking the time to inspect your equipment and refresh your skills. Skis that have been sitting in storage for months, batteries that haven’t been replaced, and avalanche safety equipment that hasn’t been tested can potentially create problems once you’re at the trailhead or even worse, at the top of the run.
Whether you’re heading out for your first tour of the season on Red Mountain Pass here in the San Juans or skiing runs closer to home, a little preparation can go a long way. Use this article to make sure your gear is ready, your rescue equipment works, and your tour plan is appropriate for the conditions.
Inspect Your Skis, Bindings, Boots, and Skins
Your skis have probably spent the last several months in storage. Before you put them back into service, give them a thorough inspection.
Check your ski bases and edges:
Did you wax your skis at the end of last season? Ski bases tend to dry out over the summer, so you may need a tune up with a fresh coat of hot wax to help your skis glide efficiently and reduce friction in variable snow conditions.
Do you have a brand new pair of skis? Often these skis need to be waxed too before their first turns too and possibly a de-tuning of the edges.
Look for rust on the edges. Light surface rust can often be removed with a gummy stone or edge tool.
Test your bindings: Bindings deserve particular attention because of the amount of moving parts and the difficulty of field repair.
Check all screws and mounting points by looking for loose screws, cracked housings, or other signs of wear. If you suspect a mounting problem, have a ski tech at your local shop inspect it.
Inspect the toe pieces and heel units. Make sure moving parts operate normally and that there are no broken components or excessive play.
Test uphill and downhill modes by verifying that the toe locks and releases as designed for touring, and that the heel rotates correctly.
Check your boot-to-binding compatibility. If you bought new boots or adjusted your setup, confirm compatibility before heading out.
Verify release settings. If your bindings have an adjustable DIN, make sure the release setting is the same on each ski and the value is what you still expect.
Check the quality of your skins: Storing your skins correctly is an important step at the end of the season, it may be too late now to remedy it, but in general you want to store skins in a cool, dark area. Avoid leaving them in your shed where it will get hot during the day and ruin the glue. Skin savers are a protective sheet that can also keep the glue from sticking to itself during the off-season.
Inspect the glue and make sure the adhesive is clean, tacky, and free of excessive dirt, hair, and debris. If the glue is contaminated or no longer holds, refresh or replace it.
Check tip and tail attachments. Look for worn clips, bent metal, damaged straps, and loose rivets.
Verify the fit, it’s common for skiers to have several models of skis so make sure the setup your grabbing is a matching set.
Inspect your boots:
Inspect the shells for cracks and excessive wear. Pay particular attention to the cuff, buckles, pivot points, and areas around the walk mechanism. Check the buckles and straps, it’s not uncommon to have power straps tear or rivets on buckles fail.
Test the walk mode. Engage and disengage the mechanism several times. Make sure it locks securely into ski mode and moves freely in walk mode.
Inspect the tech binding interface for good contact with your bindings.
Test Your Avalanche Rescue Equipment
Your avalanche rescue equipment is only useful if you know how to use it and it works when you need it. Before the season begins, inspect every item and practice with your partners.
Avalanche transceiver: At the end of the season, it’s best practice to remove the batteries to avoid corrosion.
Replace the batteries with a fresh pair and check the new battery level. Avoid mixing old and new batteries.
Visually inspect the transceiver, looking for cracks, damaged buttons, and anything that could prevent reliable operation.
Run the manufacturer's recommended function check and confirm that the software is up-to-date and working as expected.
Perform a thorough group check before your first tour. Verify that each person's transceiver transmits and receives signals properly. This is a good practice on each daily tour, but especially important at the start of the season or with new partners.
Refresh your companion rescue skills, these are perishable skills and it’s important to stay fresh. Practice signal acquisition, coarse search, fine search, and a multiple burial triage.
Probe and shovel:
Check the probe segments and cable. Assemble it to make sure it deploys quickly and locks securely.
Confirm the markings are visible. Depth markings help rescuers assess burial depth and excavation strategy.
Inspect the blade and shaft of your shovel. Check for cracks, bent components, loose connections, and damaged locking mechanisms.
Assemble and lock the shovel. Make sure the handle and blade connect securely and can be assembled without difficulty.
Pack up your avalanche rescue equipment and be sure to keep your transceiver on your person in a secure position, and probe and shovel in a secure, dedicated accessible pocket in your pack.
Practice probing and systematic digging with your partners. This may require setting aside an hour before the tour to dig in the snow and refresh your rescue skills before heading out.
Check current conditions and make a tour plan
The first tour of the season is a good time to revisit the fundamentals. Early season snowpacks can be especially challenging with thin coverage and familiar terrain from last season may be different than you expect now.
Read the current avalanche forecast. Review the danger rating, primary avalanche problems, and any travel advice for your specific zone.
Discuss your plan with your partners. Agree on the route, turnaround time, communication plan, and conditions that would prompt you to change objectives.
Snow coverage: Is there enough snow for safe travel, or are rocks and obstacles still exposed? Knowing what the terrain looks like in the summer is a great resource so you can choose the open meadow without downed trees or talus when the first snowfall covers it up just enough.
Weather and visibility: Will wind, precipitation, temperature changes, or poor visibility affect route finding or good snow conditions?
Egress options: Can you easily shorten the tour if someone in the group is tired, equipment fails, or conditions don’t line up with what you expect?
Get to know the early season snowpack, you don’t need to charge hard on your first tour. Consider getting out to familiarize yourself again with your equipment and the current snowpack. Be especially wary of buried obstacles, such as rocks, fallen trees, or even mining equipment (quite common in Colorado).
Consider signing up for an avalanche refresher course such as an AIARE 1 or 1-day Avalanche Rescue course. Skyward Mountaineering offers several courses throughout the season to keep your skills fresh. A new season is a great opportunity to build good habits.
Start the Season With Good Habits
The beginning of backcountry ski season is a chance to reset your systems and establish habits that will serve you throughout the winter. Take the time to tune your skis, inspect your bindings, sort and pack your gear, and practice and refresh your avalanche rescue skills.
If you're looking to build confidence before heading into more complex terrain, consider an avalanche education course or guided day of backcountry skiing with an AMGA certified Ski Guide who can help you improve your movement and provide insight into tour planning and best practices. At Skyward Mountaineering, the San Juan Mountains around Silverton and Red Mountain Pass offer excellent varied terrain for developing efficient touring techniques, practicing terrain assessment, and learning how to make thoughtful decisions in the mountains.