An Expert’s Guide: How to Prepare for a Safe Backcountry Ski Season

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All those perishable skills - where did they go?! Tis the season to brush the dust off those tools in the toolkit so we're mentally and physically prepared for a safe season of backcountry skiing. What we’ve learned about avalanches needs to be fresh in our minds by the time we step into those skis or splits. It might seem like months away, but winter can come sooner than expected, so let’s be prepared to shred the gnar with confidence as soon as the snow hits!

Brush up on Your Avalanche Safety

Avalanche safety is an essential part of safe backcountry skiing. There's so much to think about when we’re out on a ski tour that it’s easy for our brains to get overwhelmed and then forget vital information that could keep us safe. I’ve always found it useful to have these basic tools with me on every backcountry ski tour:

1. My AIARE fieldbook, or a notepad, and pencil, is always on me in the backcountry, so I can refer to my pre-trip plan and then take notes or observations in the field as I’m backcountry skiing. Writing things down can alleviate the burden of memory, which is not as dependable as we’d like it to be when we are stressed or anxious. So it’s time to get that AIARE fieldbook out from the back of the closet and start reading through it again.

2. Having multiple map apps with predrawn gpx tracks and downloaded maps on my phone helps me stick to my route plan. I remember that the better I prepare for a trip, the more enjoyable it is because I feel confident in my decision making and ultimately safer for having a plan that considers the avalanche danger and risk. If it’s been awhile since you’ve worked with a map app such as Gaia, CalTopo, or On X Backcountry, this is a great opportunity to watch some tutorials on route planning.

3. The AIARE Framework is a great place to start your avalanche review. Fall is a perfect time to start on the “Prepare” category, which includes practicing rescue drills, getting ready to track early season storms, and looking at maps for your future backcountry ski trips. Refamiliarizing yourself with the entire framework will help you get back in the mindset for tour planning, reading the daily avalanche bulletin, working together as a team, and debriefing at the end of each day.

Invest in Your Avalanche Education

If it’s been several years since your last avalanche course, it might be time to take a refresher or even a repeat. An AIARE course, while somewhat of a financial investment, will give you essential information on identifying avalanche terrain, as well as provide systematic approaches to assessing terrain features that could be problematic and how to navigate them in the field. On the AIARE Rescue course, we learn how to use our beacons, shovels, and probes in an efficient and timely manner if a rescue should arise. This information and practice is vital to traveling safely in the backcountry, and it gives us more confidence to work as a team and be a valuable asset on backcountry ski tours. 

If you’ve been ski touring regularly for several years and have gained experience identifying avalanche terrain and using various travel methods to limit exposure, then it’s time to take an AIARE 2 course! This advanced course focuses on how to decrease uncertainty, implement margins for error, and minimize exposure as a group in the field - it's highly recommended for anyone seeking a long lasting recreational career in backcountry skiing and splitboarding.

We Depend on Our Safety Gear

In addition to avalanche awareness, our avalanche safety equipment needs to be in good working order and ready for easy deployment. By using a systematic checklist, we can be sure that our beacon, shovel, and probe will be fully functional when we need it most.

1. Check to make sure your beacon’s firmware is up to date - and there’s no evidence of water damage, cracks, or battery terminal corrosion. Do I still know all my beacon’s functions? Can I perform a group trailhead check?

2. Deploy your probe. Is it easy to assemble, or does it fall apart easily? Can I see the measurement markings or are they worn off? Lastly, is it long enough for the snowpack in which I’ll be skiing?

3. Assemble your shovel. Is it an appropriate size for rescue digging? Do I remember efficient shoveling techniques?

4. Practice rescue scenarios with your equipment. We need to be familiar, efficient, and quick with all the steps and be able to accommodate a variety of scenarios.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Don’t stand in the way of your own success and safety - there’s so much you can do to get ready for the best backcountry ski adventures of your life! And if you’re looking for some guidance, come join Pika Mountain Guides on an avalanche refresher day or custom ski trip this coming season. We’re here to help you build on your skills so you can reach your backcountry objectives and dreams. For bigger ski trips, check out our Norway Ski & Sail trip and Swiss Hut ski trips in Spring 2026!