How To Prepare Kids For Backcountry Skiing

Teaching children the joys of backcountry skiing requires a unique blend of preparation, patience, and dedication. With the right guidance and a focus on safety, children can experience an exciting new world of snowy adventures. Here's how you can prepare your kids for backcountry skiing.

Understanding Backcountry Skiing

Before embarking on the journey, it's important that your child understands what backcountry skiing is. Unlike resort skiing, it involves navigating uncontrolled, non-groomed terrain. Express to them the importance of safety, preparedness, and respect for the ecological balance of the backcountry.

Safety Measures

Safety is the utmost concern when preparing children for backcountry skiing. Essential safety equipment should include a beacon, probe, and shovel. Kids should be taught how to use these tools and stress the importance of always skiing with a partner.

Learn to Ski First

Before tackling the backcountry, your child should be a capable downhill skier. Ensure they are comfortable with turning, stopping, and controlling their pace on groomed runs before introducing them to rugged, off-piste terrain.

Start small

One doesn't climb Everest on their first day of mountain climbing, so begin with small, controlled environments. Gradually increase the length and difficulty of trips to build trust and experience. The uphill is often harder for kids as discomfort is not often not in their usual agenda.

Nurturing Useful Skills

1. Navigation: Teach basic map-reading skills and how to follow trail markers.

2. Avalanche awareness: Enroll them in basic avalanche awareness courses. This prepares them to anticipate and respond appropriately to hazards.

3. Survival skills: Teach them about weather-pattern recognition, fire-building, and basic first-aid.

4. Situational Awareness: self reliance and injury avoidance through sound decision making should be stressed.