When can I head into the backcountry?
It’s December 1st! This winter hasn’t gotten off to a roaring start like the past couple of seasons. Worry not. It’s not even officially winter yet. Places like Bolton Valley typically don’t open until later in December anyway. We’re almost out of this bad spell of weather and soon enough mountains will come to life with the sound of snow guns, and hopefully, with a little help from MN, we’ll be back at it.
Let’s talk about splitboarding in the backcountry. This is by no means a comprehensive guide, more so some things to consider before heading out into the backcountry to help you know that you’re ready.
Straight to Send - When can I head into the backcountry?
Wait a second don’t do that. Don’t go straight to send. If you’re just getting into splitboarding but have been snowboarding for a while you may be asking how do I know when I can go into the backcountry?
There are a few things to consider as venturing into the backcountry takes you out of the safety net that is offered when snowboarding at a resort. This is an ungroomed, unpatrolled environment. There will be limited cell phone service, if any at all. Conditions can vary, and trail hazards are a very real threat.
*when the snow snake bites face plants are sure to happen
*What you’re going to read here is particular to the Vermont Backcountry
What can I expect in the backcountry?
As mentioned before, there are no groomers making sure you’ve got pristine trails, or patrollers who are marking trail hazards, and other obstacles while ensuring your safety. You’re more or less on your own. Sometimes what can look good from far is sometimes far from good. You could be riding powder one second, and punching through a crust layer the next, and have it pull you down in the process (see picture above).
There will be limited to no signage depending on where you are. It’s important to have some navigation skills. Being entirely dependent on your cell phone isn’t something that we recommend. You should have a paper map of the area you are in, tucked away somewhere in your jacket or touring pack should your cell phone die. Being able to navigate is a crucial component of a safe and fun backcountry experience. It’s always good to study the terrain before hand, and know your routes, having an idea before you actually set out.
How do I know that I’m ready?
Splitboarding in the backcountry is not for the faint of heart. It can oftentimes be more Type 2 style fun. When we consider venturing off of the resort with our splitboards, and into the unknown you need to consider some of the following:
Ability in tight tree runs to link turns
This is the majority of the skiable terrain in Vermont
Can I read the terrain as I ride and avoid trail hazards, such as downed trees, hidden rocks, and other obstacles
Though some may see these as trail features to play on
Assessing backcountry conditions
Have you taken an avalanche course?
While Vermont terrain isn’t typically avalanche prone it, when conditions permit, avalanches can occur. While they may not bury you they can send you crashing into a tree breaking some bones, or worse.
Avalanche courses also help with assessing conditions as well as making safe and smart decisions when recreating in the backcountry, not limited to navigation, terrain choices, and group management to name a few.
There are resources on our site that can be found here:
https://www.splitboardvt.com/avalanche-education
Do you read weather reports to see what mother nature is delivering.
As a backcountry recreationalist we keep our eye on the weather on a daily if not hourly basis to see what’s going on.
How are your navigation skills?
Yes there are apps like Gaia, CalTopo, Strava, and others that can help you find your way in the backcountry. Nothing beats the tried and true paper map and compass. We would recommend learning how to use a compass and paper map before you go out and not attempt when you actually need it. Practice makes perfect!
Cell phones can die, especially in cold weather. It’s easy to get lost, or separated from your crew in the backcountry. Have a plan, stay close, and don’t let your friends get out of your site.
Travel in groups when possible, while following covid guidelines.
We do strongly encourage you to take your splitboard out to a resort to get your gear dialed. You’ll want to work out any potential issues, like lose bolts and screws, or stance and comfort issues before you take it out into the backcountry. Working on your gear in the middle of the woods when its dumping snow is not a fun time. It’s also a great way to get familiar with your board and how it rides before you venture off the beaten path.
I’m an expert rider, let's go already!
Okay, okay! We’re going to assume that you’ve got your splitboard gear, it is setup and ready to go, and that you can rip tight trees at your favorite Vermont resort. We are also going to assume that you’ve got your gear dialed in by trying it out at your local ski resort first, and understand how it all works. If that is the case you will want to first make a plan. Any good backcountry adventure, especially your first one starts with making a plan, and we recommend starting small. Pick some of the more known spots, like Bolton Valley, Tear Drop, Dewey, or Brandon Gap to name a few.
SplitboardVT also recommends knowing the backcountry code of ethics developed by the Catamount Trail Association & their partners. It’s also good to know the Covid Guidelines for recreating in the backcountry.
Make a plan
Since the backcountry is unmanaged (even in the managed zones), we don’t want to just pack up our gear and set out on the skin track, or start blazing our own. It’s important to stay in tune with the weather. Conditions are important for recreating safely. At SplitboardVT, we like to use a number of different resources, but a great one is Weather.gov - https://www.weather.gov - You can drop pins to get an idea of temperature, predicted snowfall and other data, especially what’s going on at elevation. Weather can change quickly when you go up in elevation. There are superior tools to this, but this is a simple and effective tool for those of that don’t geek out on weather. We’ll leave that to the experts. Another great way to check local conditions, check mountain webcams to see where you want to go. It’ll give you an idea of what's happening in real time, often with a look at a snow stake, the base area, and summit.
I’ve got snow in my backyard and it's December, does that mean I can go out now? Nope, not yet! In Vermont one of the key indicators that the backcountry is ready to for us to splitboard is the Mt. Mansfield Snow Stake. While it’s localized to that part of the Green Mountains, it’s still a pretty solid indicator.
Check out this page by Matthew Parilla for current, and historical data - https://matthewparrilla.com/mansfield-stake/ . The snow stake is a good indicator for current snowpack. It is one component that gives us an idea on if the backcountry is rideable. We need quite a bit of snow to cover up rocks, trees, stumps, downed branches, and other trail obstacles.
Typically 40-60 inches on the Mt. Mansfield snow stake means that it’s probably safe to venture out while being able to minimize risk. On an average year, that means we’re not getting out there until late January or Early February. Some years are better than others so it is good to stay informed. Even then with melt thaw cycles trail hazards can start poking their way through so again, keep expectation in check.
Another component of making a plan goes back to navigation. Make sure you’ve studied the area. You’ve made a plan A, B, C, D. Know your routes, and where you want to go. If you pull up to a trail head and the parking lot is full don’t make your own space, you’ll probably get towed. Go somewhere else, to your plan B or C, go early, or go later. We can expect peak usage to be between 10am and 2pm on weekends.
Don’t forget to let friends, and family know where you’re going, what route you plan on taking, and when you plan to be back.
One Last Thing
When heading out into the backcountry, it's important, especially when you’re with a group of friends to be able to say no. When something doesn’t feel right, conditions have changed, you become exhausted from the tour, you get a blister, or you’re just not having a good time, it is okay to stop, and not continue on towards your objective. It is okay to turn around and go back to the car. The most important thing to always keep top of mind is to make sure you and the rest of your group are safe. That’s just basic Maslow’s. Fun will happen, that’s why we slide on snow!
Think Snow!
Splitboard VT