PUKING POWDER AND AVALANCHE SAFETY!
By Muzzey
SNOWBOARDER Magazine “Avalanche Safety Knowledge” Course
March 27-31, 2005
Baldface Lodge, Nelson B.C.
At the end of March, Snowboarder Magazine held our first-annual Avalanche Safety Knowledge (A.S.K.) course. The event was part avalanche school and part powder orgy. Hosted by the able crew of Baldface Lodge up in the Canadian backcountry, this world-renowned snow-zone was the perfect place to learn about avalanche safety and get some killer pow. These plain words will fall short of the overall “Holy Shit” factor of the whole experience. The snow, the guides, and the amenities of the Baldface Lodge surpassed everyone’s expectations. We were way beyond stoked for this shred adventure.
The idea behind our A.S.K. event was to bring snowboard industry insiders—people who work in the snow—out to the backcountry for some hands-on learning about avalanche safety. The event was divided up between snow studies, lectures from expert CAA certified guides, and full-on pow slashing. At times it was hard to stay focused on safety when all 36,000 acres of the Baldface terrain was pillow-city—it puked fresh pow for days and stayed nice and cold at night. Jealous yet?
Our crew listened and learned a lot. It’s safe to say that everyone was enlightened; grasping how avalanches occur and learning how to avoid danger. World-class safety wrangler John Buffery was our lead guide along with Olympic shredder Mark Fawcett, Heath Lockhurst, and Demian Whitley. These guys were solid. Each day began with a weather and safety assessment before we loaded the cats and climbed up over treeline. Between unbelievable runs of thigh-deep Kootenay pow, the 2 groups of A.S.K. shredders stopped for snow analysis and safety discussions. Buff and the boys were so adept at reading the snow, that even amid this profusion of deep white fluff, the groups rode at full-throttle and howled through the trees—just Hyped! We saw some little natural avalanches, and one big-ass size 2.5 avy that ripped right before our eyes. Talk about the force of nature … The group was amazed, shaken; but Master Guide “Buff” led us into the slide path to investigate firsthand—just like that.
As far as the eye can see, the terrain surrounding Baldface Lodge goes on and on. With so many fresh lines coming off the endless ridges and peaks the days blurred together as each ride down trumped the previous.
Baldface at night is all about gourmet food and hot-tubbing under the stars. Maybe a cold one at the bar. Pretty much everyone signed up for massages and even acupuncture is offered for the sore carcass. Captain Fun, Owner Jeff Pensiero made the SNOWBOARDER group feel right at home. The event was a super-success that ended with a sunny day and a final run down from Craig Kelly’s cross atop the ridge behind Baldface Lodge. Snowboarder Magazine and the ‘Avalanche Safety Knowledge’ course will be back next season. You should be thinking, “How do I get an invite?”
Check out the websites below for more info on Baldface Lodge and avalanche safety:
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