You should know! 4 risks lurking in the backcountry and how to avoid them

Rider: Yu Takeo

In the untouched snowy mountains, you never know when or where danger may lurk. Unlike ski resorts, there is no human-managed safety management, so in the backcountry, you need to predict and avoid danger yourself, and if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you need to deal with it yourself. A professional guide shared basic knowledge about the dangers of the backcountry and how to avoid them

Backcountry risks you should be aware of

What are the possible dangers (risks) when skiing in the backcountry? Broadly speaking, these can be classified as: 1) dangers due to weather, 2) dangers due to geographical conditions, 3) injuries or illness, and 4) problems with equipment

１．weather

Whiteout

In the mountains, the weather can suddenly change, causing a thick fog or snowstorm that turns everything white, blocking visibility and causing a whiteout. Because it becomes impossible to distinguish direction, slope, or unevenness of the ground or snow, many people get lost, and in bad conditions, it can even lead to disaster. During a whiteout, your sense of position becomes impaired and you lose track of your direction, and if everything becomes white down to your feet, you lose your sense of balance and may even get dizzy

If you feel like a whiteout is coming, it's important to look at a map and keep track of your current location at all times. If you're unsure of your current location, the safest thing to do is to stay put and wait until visibility clears. Also, while it's assumed you can read a map, it's not difficult to turn back if you have a GPS (or a smartphone app). In that sense, having map reading skills and carrying a GPS will help you avoid risk

Blizzards and strong winds

Poor visibility is a problem, but the biggest risk is hypothermia. The wind lowers the perceived temperature, making it feel much colder than the predicted temperature. If your core body temperature drops below 35°C, your body's normal functions begin to be affected, and if hypothermia becomes severe, you could freeze to death

It is necessary to prepare for blizzards and strong winds by wearing layers suitable for snowy mountains. In terms of behavioral measures, if bad weather is forecast, you can reduce the risk by descending to a lower altitude and choosing an area with less wind, such as a forest

rain

The weather in the mountains is often changeable, especially in the spring, and it can sometimes rain. The biggest risk of rain is that the cold can cause body heat to be lost, leading to hypothermia. Getting wet can cause a significant drop in body temperature. An outer shell with strong waterproofing is essential. If rain is forecast, consider not going to the mountains

In snow and rain, your body temperature drops when the outside of your clothes gets wet, but in the backcountry, the inside of your clothes often get wet due to sweating while hiking. If you wear an inner layer with low breathability, the sweat can then cool due to wind and other factors, which can lead to hypothermia. Layering is important to avoid the risk of hypothermia

２．geographical conditions　

avalanche

In the backcountry, the most important thing is to be careful of avalanches. If you are caught in an avalanche, you could suffocate or be swept away by the avalanche and hit a tree or rock, potentially killing you

There is also the possibility that an avalanche you caused could harm someone. Many avalanche accidents occur due to human error. The main causes are people carelessly entering a slope despite unstable snow conditions, sliding down when there are people below and triggering an avalanche, or hiking up into an avalanche-prone area. However, no one can judge 100% whether an avalanche will occur or not. It is that difficult to assess changes in the snow and the condition of the slope

Therefore, as a basic rule, first learn the terrain where avalanches are likely to occur and the areas where avalanches will not reach even if they do occur. There are three types of avalanches: the area where they occur (the source area), the area where they flow down (the track), and the area where they stop (the accumulation area), and the general rule is to avoid these. Essentially, anywhere that is even slightly higher is safe

The most important thing to do to avoid the danger of avalanches is, first and foremost, to always be aware of your location and the terrain and act accordingly. This includes choosing your route when hiking up, deciding on resting points, and regrouping points after skiing away from the group.

When skiing in a group, always ski one person at a time. When stopping, choose a place that is off the fall line. Even if an avalanche occurs higher up the slope, stop in a place where the avalanche will not reach your location. Also, keep an eye on the skiers even while waiting. If you are caught in an avalanche, it will be easier to pinpoint your approximate location. When hiking up and passing through dangerous areas, the principle is to go one person at a time. It is important to always create a situation where, if you are caught in an avalanche, at most only one person will be affected.

If you are not confident in your ability to judge the terrain, it is important to take advantage of a backcountry guided tour and get support from someone with considerable experience

Getting lost

Getting lost can lead to disaster, so it's something you want to avoid at all costs. Unlike in summer mountains, there are generally no markers on the route. You're free to go anywhere, but if you lose track of where you are, it can be difficult to descend. It's important to memorize the route beforehand, and to use a map and compass or GPS while you're out and about so you don't lose track of where you are. It's important to always know your route, and if you feel even the slightest bit unsure, return to a point where you can confidently determine your current location

３．Injury or illness

slipping down

There are two main types of falls:
① falling from cliffs or other places with significant drops　
, and ② sliding down slopes on frozen snow or granular spring snow. While

it's important to check maps beforehand for large cliffs, there are countless steps and cracks that aren't even shown on maps. Ideally, you should recognize your route before skiing, but that's not always possible. On slopes with obscured terrain like knolls, enter at a speed that allows you to stop at any time, so you can stop before you fall. Furthermore, stopping in a place where you can move properly from that stopping point to a place where you can ski is a way to avoid falls in the first place.

② When you need to ski down an icy slope where the edges won't grip, snowboarders should use their toe edge and, if they have an ice axe, use it effectively to descend the slope. This is because the heel side has weaker edging and increases the risk of falling.

Skiers should descend slowly using side-slipping or diagonal descents, adjusting the pressure on the inside edge of the outer ski and the outside edge of the inner ski. Depending on the location, try using kick turns to change your posture as you ski down.

Falls on granular snow often occur when hiking up or when the snow is interrupted during spring skiing, and you are putting on or taking off your skis on the slope. To avoid this, put on your crampons early or consider where you put on or take off your skis. If you have a wider field of vision than when skiing on groomed slopes and enjoy yourself a little more cautiously, it will be easier to avoid accidents.

Injuries and fractures due to falls and collisions with trees or rocks

These injuries are most likely to occur from falls while skiing or hiking, or from being caught in an avalanche. Collisions with trees or snow blocks due to inability to adapt to changes in snow conditions are also possible. Wearing a helmet is essential in the backcountry.

If you are injured and bleeding, stop the bleeding. For fractures and sprains, the procedure depends on the situation, but the basic principle is to immobilize the injury with whatever you have. It is essential to always carry a first-aid kit and have acquired basic first-aid skills. If you are injured to the point of being unable to move, or if there is a possibility of a fatal injury to the head or cervical spine, do not try to move and call for helicopter rescue. Mountain insurance is essential for such emergencies.

frostbite

In the backcountry, frostbite often occurs in areas where skin is likely to be exposed, such as the cheeks, nose, fingertips, and toes.
While hiking uphill, your body may feel only slightly cold, but exposed areas are exposed to wind and snow. Also, frostbite can occur without you realizing it, so it's important to eliminate skin exposure.

In cold or windy conditions, eliminate skin exposure, keep your fingertips moving, and drink warm beverages to help prevent it. If you do get frostbite, as first aid, do not warm the affected area rapidly; instead, warm it with lukewarm water or body heat, and do not interrupt the treatment prematurely.

４．Tool trouble

The board was washed away, buried and can't be found

Losing skis is a common problem for skiers. In powder snow, skis can easily slide away, making them difficult to find once lost. If you can't find them, you should plan your descent method. With

snowboards, if someone in the group has snowshoes, you can walk, but without them, moving on foot is difficult. You'll need to either construct something like makeshift snowshoes using shovel frames and poles, or everyone will need to compact the snow enough to walk on foot before descending. Wearing a leash cord is a preventative measure, but leash cords also have drawbacks if an avalanche occurs, so it's a tricky situation. Increasing the binding release value can also be a preventative measure, but it also increases the risk of injury in case of a fall.

My goggles became foggy and I couldn't use them

It's common to experience the frustration of goggles fogging up in snowy mountains, obscuring your view of slopes and routes. The cause of goggle fogging is the temperature difference between the inside of the goggles and the outside air. The air inside the goggles is warmed by your body heat, while the outside air is cold, causing condensation inside the lens. Having your vision obscured means you're slower to spot uneven terrain, increasing the risk of falls and other accidents.

One solution is to wear sunglasses while hiking and only switch to goggles at the end of your run. It's a good idea to bring a spare lens when going backcountry. Recently, there are models with magnetic lenses that allow for easy lens replacement, so it's convenient to swap them out if they fog up. Many high-end models also have anti-fog coatings on the lenses themselves, making them less prone to fogging and providing better performance. In the worst-case scenario, you can still slowly ski down with sunglasses, so avoid trying to descend with fogged-up goggles.

Wet gloves cause frostbite

When your skin gets wet, it loses body heat. Bring spare gloves with you when you go into the backcountry and change into new ones as soon as they get wet. As a general rule, gloves made from genuine leather are best as they are extremely waterproof. We recommend genuine leather gloves that don't get wet to prevent frostbite. They are soft and adapt to your hands with use, and if properly cared for, they will last a very long time

The binding broke

If your bindings break severely in the mountains, you won't be able to ski, which can be a real problem. For those who use climbing skins, even minor damage can make walking difficult. To avoid this, first check for loose screws and age-related deterioration beforehand.

If your bindings do break in the mountains, you can often make temporary repairs with cable ties, duct tape, or wire, so bring these items with you. Make temporary repairs and descend via a safe route without taking unnecessary risks.

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❖ The person who taught me

❖ COLUMNS

Beacon checker developed by Yu Takeo

Avalanches are a major risk in the backcountry. Beacons are essential equipment for avalanche rescue. When entering the mountains in a group, a group check is performed at the trailhead to confirm that the beacons are working correctly. However, this check may not be possible when traveling alone, or due to human error, or simply because the check was neglected. A

beacon checker helps prevent these problems. When you pass in front of this device, you can instantly see whether the beacon is powered on or off. It's a device that allows you to visually confirm whether the beacon is powered on or off by automatically displaying a circle (○) or cross (✖) on an electronic display board.

Originally, bca had released a beacon checker, but conventional beacon checkers required a power source in the mountains, making it difficult to install in locations where they would actually be effective. To solve this problem, bca's headquarters in the US and K2 SKI, which handles the bca brand in Japan, collaborated to develop a standalone beacon checker that runs on solar power (sunlight). This was developed by backcountry guide Yu Takeo

"We developed this because there have been cases where people have been caught in avalanches because they forgot to turn on their beacons, and we wanted to prevent these accidents and also raise awareness among people who enter the mountains without proper precautions. We started using it in the Hakuba and Myoko areas from the 20-21 season, and it worked without any problems throughout the season. We hope to gradually increase the number of areas where it is installed. We hope to reduce avalanche accidents even just a little! With that in mind, we are calling on ski resorts to introduce it."

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There are countless risks in the backcountry, but improvements are also being made to improve safety. Please understand the risks in the backcountry and enjoy the mountains with a strong sense of safety