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Winter Is Coming. 

Are you ready?

tldr; A brief overview of a not-so-brief article on winter preparedness.

If you only consider two things as you plan your adventures this winter season, make them Preparation and Practice. 

Prepare for your trip by making an appropriate trip plan, packing the ten essentials, and inspecting your gear to ensure it’s in proper working order.

Practice for your adventures by fine-tuning your companion avalanche rescue skills and first aid procedures.

And remember, if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation in the backcountry call 911 immediately. The sooner you call, the sooner your local Search and Rescue organization can get to you.

Winter Is Coming

For some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. For others, it’s time to break out the hot chocolate and marshmallows and dream of paddleboards and mountain bikes. Whether you love it or love to hate it, winter is coming to the Sea to Sky and with it means unpredictable weather and some increased risks when recreating in the mountains. Make sure you (and your gear) are ready to tackle anything mother nature can throw at you this year with some of our tried and true winter preparedness tips and tricks.

Prepare

Make a trip plan.

It’s a bluebird day. Your friends call last minute and ask if you want to jump in on their day of touring or sledding. Who could say no? You grab your pack and head out the door, making a vague mention of being back later to anyone within earshot. The truth is, we’ve all done it. But not having a dedicated trip plan can result in a lot worse than missing out on the freshest pow. 

Making a trip plan not only ensures you’ll have the most enjoyable experience, it also keeps you and your group safe. There are lots of resources online to help you develop a rock-solid trip plan (check out this great article or use this Online Trip Planner or mobile app from our friends at AdventureSmart) but if you choose to create your own keep these simple guidelines in mind:

  • The 5 W’s (Who/When/Where/Why/What)
  • How are you getting to your destination (including mode of transportation to any trailheads)
  • Map your route and have an alternate route in case of…
  • Weather. Check and double check the weather!
  • Share your plan! Nobody can help you if they don’t know you’re gone.

Did you know? At a distance of 1km from your planned route the search radius is 3.1km2. At 3km from your route the search area is 28km2 and at 10km it’s as large as 314km2. 

Pack the essentials.

If you’re reading this, you likely enjoy spending time with a pack on your back so you’re probably aware of the importance of the weight of your pack (and other gear). With the advent of packable layers and lighter-than-air gear it seems like pretty soon we should be able to pack our entire home into our pack. So in a world where we can seemingly have it all at our fingertips what’s actually essential?

In 1930 a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts known simply as “The Mountaineers” devised ‘The Ten Essentials’ to help people prepare for their adventures. In the near-century since its creation the list has of course been updated (into categories instead of items) and modernized – but the basic tenets remain.

  1. Navigation Gear – including your cell phone and a means of charging it, plus some way to navigate without it (map & compass; GGPS device; etc.)
  2. Lighting – headlamp and extra batteries
  3. Sun Protection and Visibility – sunglasses/goggles, sun protective clothing, sunscreen (even in the winter!)
  4. First Aid Supplies – what goes in your first aid kit will be specific to your trip, but at a minimum it is recommended to carry band aids, sterile dressings for minor wound care, duct tape or medical tape to secure your dressings, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers and Moleskin or blister bandages. ** Make sure your first aid kit is sealed in a waterproof container or bag!
  5. A knife (multitool) and gear repair supplies – don’t forget to pack a whistle too!
  6. Fire Starters and/or a heat source – matches, lighter, tinder and camp stove. ** Make sure your frie starting gear is protected in a waterproof container or bag!
  7. Shelter – a personal protective shelter like an emergency bivvy is a must – even if you aren’t planning on staying overnight.
  8. Food – more than the bare minimum
  9. Water – more than the bare minimum, or have a water purifying system if you know there will be a water source on your route.
  10. Extra Clothing – including dry socks and base layers, wind and water resistant layers and thermal layers.

Remember that this list covers essentials. There may be other items you need depending on where you’re going and for how long you plan to be gone – but be careful. It’s easy to find ways to justify packing every last thing you think might want or need. Although it can be extremely dangerous to adventure without your ten essentials it can be equally as dangerous to overpack and risk exhausting yourself from carrying supplies you don’t actually need.

Inspect your gear.

Remember that fancy new transceiver you bought for the AST course you took three years ago? What about those snowpants you’ve said you’ll replace “next season” for the past 5 seasons? Our gear is our first line of defense against the unpredictable conditions we’re likely to encounter in the Sea to Sky. No matter whether you splurge on the latest and greatest innovations or hold on to a “bomb-proof” jacket for sentimental reason gear is only as good as the condition in which you maintain it.

At the start of each season be sure to conduct a thorough check of all your gear, including a check of the batteries in any electronics (transceiver/beacon, headlamps, inReach/communication devices, airbags – if battery operated, etc.) and ensuring the functionality of each piece of gear (bindings – both skiing and climbing mode, adhesive on skins, jackets/pants/gloves/baselayers in good condition, waxed/sharpened skis, etc.). If you’re someone who likes to keep a supply of hand/toe warmers or energy bars in your pockets or pack, inspecting your gear could also include checking expiration dates and ensuring you still have an adequate supply. 

Basically, your inspection process could be anything that will help you and your gear be ready to get out there. If you feel like you aren’t sure about a potential issue or just don’t feel confident in your ability to maintain or repair your own gear be sure to bring it to a qualified technician or repair person.

Inspecting and maintaining your gear is also an integral component of the pre- and post-trip process, one that should never be neglected, no matter how tempting it may be. Doing a quick check of all the equipment you plan on carrying with you that day before you head out in the mountains can save you hours of frustration later on and may even end up saving you or your partner’s life. Similarly, at the end of a big adventure maintenance will likely be the last thing on your mind. Just remember that proper storage and cleaning can not only extend the life of your gear but can also speed up your pre-trip check the next day.

Here are a couple of simple tips that can save you time and frustration in the future:

  • Always ensure you’re cleaning as much moisture from any metallic components as possible. (ie. snow in bindings)
  • Give your ski bases a quick wipe to remove any dirt or debris before strapping them together at the end of the day.
  • If your jacket or pants have a lot of grime on them, give them a quick rinse when you get home. This is especially important on Gore-Tex since the outer waterproof membrane becomes less water repellant as oils and dirt build up on the surface of the fabric.
  • Double check you’ve turned off all electronics, including headlamps, communication devices and avalanche gear. Although many electronics have auto-off functions it’s just not worth the risk of a dead battery when you set off next time.
  • If you used any consumables (energy bars, hand warmers, etc.) replace them immediately so as not to forget on the morning of your next adventure.

Practice

So we’ve prepared our gear and packed our essentials, we’ve made a trip plan and shared it with a friend. All that’s left to do is to get after it, right?

Not so fast.

Most of us remember learning the Pythagorean theorem, but just because we knew it back then doesn’t mean we can apply it now (what’s a hypotenuse again…?). Just like middle school math, our outdoor skills (and especially emergency first aid and survival skills) need to be refreshed and practiced regularly. Use it, or lose it.

Our own Squamish Search and Rescue Prevention Team Coordinator, Christine Strub, suggests this question any time you plan on venturing out into the backcountry:

“In case of a winter emergency, am I confident enough in my skills today to keep myself and my friends alive, and to help someone in immediate need without causing more harm?”

Ask yourself this question. If the answer is anything less than a resounding “yes” it’s time for a refresher. Most organizations agree that 80-90% of people buried in an avalanche can survive if they are extricated within 15 minutes. However, by 30 minutes, that percentage drops to a frightening 40% and by 45 minutes or more just 20% of people or less survive.

*Source: https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/blogpost/1815963/340891/Medical-Management-of-the-Avalanche-Victim

These are sobering statistics, to be sure, and it further reinforces the need for a quick response from the people who are there when it happens. Squamish Search and Rescue will always respond as quickly as possible but remember that it’s up to you to start the initial rescue while emergency services are mobilized and deployed. You could very well be the one to save your friend’s life.

Practicing your emergency survival skills doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though, in fact it can even be fun and enjoyable. Early in the season or even before you venture out into the backcountry why not spend an hour or two with some friends at a local park or even in a backyard and practice burying and finding someone’s beacon? Similarly, practice your transitions from skinning to skiing and getting your shovel out of your pack and assembled. If you have first aid training, ask a friend to come be a patient for you while you run through some common outdoor scenarios (think hypothermia, broken leg bones or knee injuries). While it may seem silly at the time, you never know when it could come in handy. Wouldn’t you want to know that your adventure partners were ready to step up if you were the one in need?

Lastly, practice making good decisions in the mountains. Cold weather not only has an effect on our bodies as we discussed above, but also the battery life of electronic devices; do you know how to get back to the trailhead if your cell phone dies? What if your headlamp battery suddenly gives out? Changing weather can often disorient us in the backcountry making even the most well-traveled route seem like a completely new trail and shorter days mean less daylight hours. Know when to turn back so you don’t end up hurrying and potentially making easy to avoid mistakes.

Winter is an incredible time to get outdoors and play in the mountains of the Sea to Sky but it brings with it a set of unique challenges. Make the most of the season by following the simple principles of Preparing and Practicing for winter adventures. And remember, if you ever find yourself in an unsafe or emergency situation call 911 immediately. The sooner you call, the sooner help will arrive.

Many thanks to Christine Strub of the SSAR Prevention Team for her invaluable advice and input. For more information on preparedness in the backcountry visit adventuresmart.ca or email prevention@squamishsar.org