Cap Puckhaber of The Hiking Adventures in Reno shares his strategy for staying safe in the backcountry.
Topographic maps, Sierra Avalanche Center reports, and organize safety kit here: https://thehikingadventures.com/what-you-need-to-go-backcountry-skiing-splitboarding/
#Snowboarding #SierraNevada #Splitboarding #CapPuckhaber #Skiing
Some views from yesterday's skintrack up cardio hill. A winter storm is set to drop up to a meter of additional cascade flake.
But for now, its still quite low tide at middle elevations, definitely bounced off the reef once in a fit of irrational exuberance on the way down.
How did you start #splitboarding? What was the gear your started with, in which order did you buy/rent? With whom did you started touring, learned from, etc.
#splitboard #snowboard #snowboarding #learning #outdoor #skitour
Got out into the alpine today, explored a new zone on Snoqualmie Pass I had never been. The mountain access starts at a low elevation, we approached from 2500ft/762m topping out around 4500ft/1372m. My partner was feeling confident riding down a line we frankly didn't belong, I was feeling a little weak in the confidence & left knee. We descended the fall line in the 3rd picture shown here. Warm temps opened the snowpack, making it soft, mushy, hard to ride and easy to sink in deep. We eventually acknowledged we were in over our heads, pulled the plug to climb out through steep trees. Attempting to get in position to transfer from ride mode to climb mode on the splitboard... my step caved in, I sunk up to my chest in a sinkhole between a downed tree. Stress kicked in, not just from the present moment but these present times, wtf is going on world! Negative thoughts looped my mind. Thoughts of an injury causing a rescue did not settle well, nobody would come get us where we were. I felt my mortality more ever clear. My rule in the mountains is to keep it cool, you need a clear head to get you through. Mountains are my place to learn, reflect on life and feel alive.
Our handy gps maps & determined legs carried us to safety. All is well. Today fully kicked my ass. Good reminder when to listen to your own instincts. The older I get the more you realize prevention is truly key. I can make solid decisions, speak up when I need to but will follow people I trust to places we sometimes should avoid. Patience carefully got us through. The Cascade mountains around Snoqualmie Pass in Washington are no joke to mess with. Some of the spookier mountains Ive explored, a lot of water drains from the steep mountain peaks around and the low elevations, warm temps & deep snowpacks keep the conditions always changing. Live to learn. Mistakes will happen but we are stronger together.
#splitboarding #mountains #beauty #exploring #backcountry #overcomingadversity #StrongerTogether
Rolling into this week with some fresh snow! The seasonal changes are turning and the opportunities ahead are wide open!
#MountainMonday #splitboardingistheanswer #splitmore #splitboarding
'Bout that time of year to accept the easy snow is gone. Been a good July so far, cant ask for much more than four days on snow. Found a fun little run, and lots more snow above this point but the effort to reach these places starts to add up creating more time to question yourself. So I recommend to bring some good questions, your pack weighs less with a heavy mind.
Stepped into these views a couple of weeks ago.
Came for the sunset, stayed for the sunrise. The more you look for it, the more beauty one can find.
Been spending so much time photographing around Mt Rainier & Chinook pass I dont know where to begin my mountain posts. Caught a few sunsets, a sunrise and night shots; heres a few splitboard moments from Saturday. Ive never spent so much time in a national park, between work & free time, I'll be able to observe & share quite a bit about the area. Dialing in some natural history and learning more about how the Cordilleran Ice Sheet helped shape how we define the Cascadia landscape. Mountains support such incredibly diverse ecosystems, Im excited to learn more to share. If you have questions or know of cool resources to learn from, Id love to hear them!
#mountains #MountainMonday #splitboarding #splitboard #cascadia #tahoma #mtrainier #washington #chinookpass
Cap Puckhaber
Benjamin Grant
Sven Hennessen
Sven Hennessen
Mountain Mindset