When asked, I always say my favorite season is the next. But recently, I sat and thought about this answer. Am I missing the end of each season chasing the next? Is the climbing rack collecting dust too early? Are the spring lines melting away without my mark?

Not this year. My favorite season is now! 

Like so many others, for me November is filled with obsessively watching the snow forecast a month too early. Chasing baseless snow comes next for December. Tiptoeing through avy danger and pow fills much of January and February while glimpsing spring lines. And March, April, and beyond?

This is the crux of my “favorite season is next” sabotage. It’s easy to miss the best backcountry riding season in spring.

The weekend before this writing in late February was no exception. While swinging my arms in a desperate attempt to gain warmth on the mountain, the clouds parted for a fleeting glimpse of steep lines and couloirs that normally just occupy my winter day dreams. It was not the day to be chasing those lines.

A menu of low angle trees and deep snow kept those demons at bay. However, plans were made to return in spring when the sun would shine a bit longer, the avy danger can be lower, and the fight to keep my fingers alive would be a distant memory.

Back at the car, as the day’s effort faded, we continued with spring plans. We discussed the long valley dirt roads that open up slowly and allow deeper, easier access to those distant peaks. We joked about fishing in alpine lakes after harvesting a dream come true line. Muddy boot packs, too much sunscreen, and not enough energy are the time stamps of spring riding.

But, quickly, panic filled my thoughts as I was asked when I was headed to Smith Rock, in Central Oregon, to bask in the sun and prove to myself I am not in climbing shape this early in the year. I relayed the date and thought to myself, did I just do it again? Did I close the spring touring season before it even opened?

Writing and thinking on this has brought out two obvious storylines. The first, and very much the most important, is that I am extremely privileged. The regret of missing one way to have fun while transitioning to another is not a luxury that should be taken lightly. While it can cause me stress, that itself is ridiculous.

The other, while pulling out my warm season gear can be exciting, it doesn’t mean winter has to occupy that storage space. It just so happens that the climbing rack may want to catch up with the splitboarding gear to swap some stories for a couple months.

Speaking on privilege, don’t ever forget how lucky we are in the Northwest to have options—to pack both sets of gear and to have the ability to choose. We are so lucky to live where we do.

During your next best season daydream, try not to close one season before it is over, and maybe also insert a new friend into the scene. The more people we can bring into our dreams the better this world will be.

My new motto for the year? My favorite season is now.

See you out there, tired and smiling.

Originally published as “My Favorite Season is Now” in the Out There Snow special section in the March-April 2022 issue.

You are as likely to find Kirby Walke descending a backcountry stash, at the crag, on an urban trail, or supporting a local outdoor cause. He last wrote about bridging the rural/urban outdoor recreation divide in the March 2019 issue of Out There.

Find more stories about backcountry skiing or splitboarding in the OTO archives.

The post My Favorite Season Is Now: Spring Ski or Climb? appeared first on Out There Venture.

To make it feasible on the ascents, the helmet has a hyper-ventilated design with plenty of vent holes scattered around the helmet, as well as an EPS liner and an interior venting channel between your head and the liner that allows for increased airflow. It also has removable ear pads that facilitate additional adjustments based on the conditions.

MSRP: $149.95. Backcountryaccess.com

Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise stated, product for these reviews was provided by the brand at no cost to the reviewer. Out There strives to only review quality products and provide honest, thoughtful, and entertaining gear reviews, but readers should always do their own research before making a purchase.

Find more articles about new gear and product reviews in the Gear Room department.

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In an effort to increase opportunities for backcountry skiers and riders to undertake state of the art backcountry travel learning opportunities in the American Selkirks, Selkirk Powder Guides (SPG) has joined the national team of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) providers for the 20/21 season. Established in 2003, and known primarily for cat skiing, SPG has been working for over four years with a seasoned group of internal guides on the certifications and accreditations necessary to attain the “Provider” status. Class registration is available immediately.

“Selkirk Powder Guides is excited to undertake their first season of avalanche courses as an AIARE provider,” said Ken Barrett, co-founder of Selkirk Powder Guides. “Kevin Stolbrock, our AIARE Programs Manager, and our guide team come with over a century of collective backcountry experience. They have been working extremely hard at achieving their credentials to teach the AIARE curriculum. It’s going to be wonderful to watch them teach what they truly love to do!”

AIARE is a nonprofit educational organization with a mission of “saving lives through avalanche education.” Serving over 100 providers in the US, South America, Europe and Asia, AIARE develops research-based avalanche education curriculum and implements ongoing training and certification for course instructors and providers. AIARE curriculum offers courses to serve all levels, from recreational to professional and from novice to advanced, and they are built in accordance with national and international standards developed by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA).

Selkirk Powder Guides, based out of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, has been serving up snowy adventures in the Selkirk Mountains since 2003 by way of cat and heli-skiing adventures, self-propelled and snowmobile-assisted alpine ski tours, and snowmobile adventures as a certified Polaris Adventures Outfitter. Beginning in December 2020, SPG will offer AIARE Rescue and AIARE 1 and 2 courses. The SPG team will be available for custom courses as well. For course dates or more info, visit Selkirkpowder.com.

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Dreams of 10,000 foot days still haunt me, even though I’ve been more likely to bonk or cramp up after climbing less than half that on backcountry ski tours these past few busy years. So I’m writing this in part to motivate and inspire myself to set bigger goals, take pre-season training more seriously, and have more fun this season once the snow flies and the backcountry snowpack starts to stabilize. Since long hours hunched over a computer, 6-pack swilling, and epic stroller walks don’t exactly make for the best backcountry ski season fitness regimen (my zone of expertise as of late), I enlisted highly motivated and perennially fit local backcountry skier and all-around outdoorsman, Mountain Gear employee, outdoor recreation advocate, and friend Travis Nichols for some thoughts on getting ready for the season ahead.

How many years have you been backcountry skiing?

TN: Since 2002 when I borrowed backcountry skis from EWU’s EPIC Adventures outdoor program and walked out into the wheat fields near campus to take a few turns.

How much vertical do you climb on an average tour?

TN: The vertical always depends on the group, conditions, and objectives, but my goal is by spring to be able to knock out 10,000 feet of climbing in a day and still have energy for more fun the next morning. For kicking off the season, my objective is to balance strength, dynamic energy and cardio—lots of long, slow, distance-covering touring. I’ve learned through injury to wait until later in the season when rocks are covered to take on bigger skiing objectives.

What does your fall training routine look like?

TN: We all know the best way to get prepared is to maintain fitness throughout the year. I aspire toward this but reality is, life gets busy. The less I slide backward the better. I try to fill my summer and fall with activities I love. Staying in motion is one of the biggest principles of success, which may mean dancing, yoga, running, biking, or climbing. Then in the fall I start on strength conditioning and more intense (for me) trail running. The NordicTrack makes its way back into our living room to build hip flexors and the kettlebell comes back into rotation to build core strength.

What other early season rituals do you have to get ready for the backcountry season?

TN: Not watching ski films. Seriously. I get too excited, then I go skiing in the backcountry in December and get hurt. I try to temper my enthusiasm until later in the year when winter fully hits. I also have enjoyed going to the Northwest Snow and Avalanche Workshop in Seattle for the past couple of years. It’s a little geeky but it’s the presentation of the latest research on snow science. That’s my way to get in the right mindset of snow safety, risk management, and how to start building new information into my practice. I also go to other snow safety events here in the Inland Northwest, re-read the classic snow safety literature, and get out with others to practice with my avalanche beacon. //

Stoked on Backcountry Skiing or Splitboarding? Don’t Miss These Pre-season Events

The Essentials for Backcountry Skiing

October 18, Mountain Gear (2002 N. Division, Spokane)

Join Mountain Gear, G3, and Scarpa to learn about the gear required to transition from inbounds skiing to backcountry touring. This is a great opportunity to learn the basics and ask questions you may not have had the chance to ask in a friendly setting. All participants will take home a free G3 ski strap, and there will be a silent auction benefitting the Northwest Avalanche Center. This free event runs from 7-9 p.m., with an rsvp required at Bit.ly/MGEARSKI.

13th Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival

December 1, Panida Theater, Sandpoint (6-9 p.m.)

The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, produced by the Boise-based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance, includes a series of inspiring films celebrating the human-powered backcountry ski and snowboard experience. This event serves as a great pre-season gathering place for some of the Inland Northwest’s most passionate backcountry riders, and you won’t leave without being stoked beyond belief for the good times waiting in the mountains this winter. Sandpoint-based Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (aka SOLE) hosts the film festival in Sandpoint each year to raise funding for its Snow School Experience program, which is part of the nation’s largest on-snow outdoor science program. Soleexperiences.org //

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Great cover story by Mira Copeland about backcountry skiing and first new Everyday Cyclist column by Hank Greer. Click the thumbnail above to expand.

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WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN TOURING TO ACCOMMODATE FILMMAKING?
It used to be that because I had so much extra energy I would do a couple laps to burn up some time and get a good run in for myself. But I realized that’s a little selfish and maybe I could use my energy for filming by running around getting creative angles on what we were doing. Using my fitness to capture what we do, while not slowing what we do.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WITH YOU WHEN YOU DO A SHOOT?
I wouldn’t really consider it a shoot, it’s just what we do on a day-to-day basis. We are not setting these scenes up. They just unfold, with three or four of my ski-touring buddies. I would like to not force the scenes. This is backcountry and this is how we do and why we do it. It’s just backcountry as it is in its true form.

IS THIS FILM HELPING YOU TRANSITION TO BEING MORE OF A FULL-TIME PRO SKIER?
I won’t lie to you. There is definitely a move to get more sponsors behind me so that I can keep doing what I do and somehow get paid for it.

THERE’S NO SHAME IN THAT.
I would be quite happy if I could support my habit and then share this amazing habit with everybody.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERIOUSLY BACKCOUNTRY TOURING?
This is my tenth year of really going for it. 1999-2000 was the first year I got my skins and started really getting up there. In my early twenties I got into rock climbing and loved the physical challenge of it. But I popped my shoulder out and I thought “well, now what do I do?” I ended up finding just as many challenges and rewards in backcountry skiing as I had in rock climbing. It was an easy transition.

DO YOU SKI MUCH OUTSIDE YOUR HOME BASE IN WESTERN CANADA?
Because I’m a family man with two kids and a wife I try to do most of my adventures near home. Luckily Revelstoke is surrounded by more adventure than I could knock off in a lifetime. It’s limitless. I have travelled to Alaska and Europe, but I like to come home and see my kids after an amazing day.

GIVE SOME ADVICE TO OUR OUTDOOR DADS ON HOW TO CONTINUE WITH ADVENTURES AND STILL BE WITH YOUR FAMILY?
That’s a tough one. It’s a very fine balance. You need to do what you can to keep it balanced like get up at 4 and be back by 10. You need to keep strong on both fronts because family is very important and more rewarding in the end than mountain travels. If the mountains make you who you are than your kids will respect you for going out there.
Kids definitely change your perception of risk. You want to make sure you make appropriate decisions and get back to your kids so they can be inspired by what you do.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY CLOSE CALLS SKIING?
Yeah. Probably. I’ve never been buried or anything like that but the mountains do have their dangerous aspects and there have been some close calls, but I try to pay as much attention as I can to avoid those.

ARE YOU TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT AVALANCHES?
Yes, but there are cliffs and crevasses too.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO SEE THE FILM AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY BACKCOUNTRY SKIING?
Be wary, and recognize that it is a dangerous world and that you should get as much knowledge as you can. Knowledge is what is going to keep you alive out here. I highly suggest taking a course or skiing with people who know a lot about it and pay attention as much as you can.

WHAT’S YOUR OFF-SEASON LIKE?
I’m a forestry worker so I plant trees and do tree-related jobs to maintain my lifestyle.

IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME UP TO REVELSTOKE AND DO BACKCOUNTRY TOURING, WHERE IS A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM TO GO?
Right now I am at Roger’s Pass which is a backcountry Mecca around here. It has an access road that will take you to 4500 feet with access to all sots of terrain.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SKIING ACCOMPLISHMENT?
A few years ago I tried to do as many 10,000 foot days in a season as I could. That was one of the hardest challenges I have ever undertaken. I would aim to climb 10,000 feet in each outing. I did eighty days like that in one year a couple years ago. That feels like the pinnacle of what I’ve done.

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?
The biggest thing is believing in what you are trying to achieve. I have a firm belief in the goals I have set for myself. If you go up believing instead of going up doubting, belief will probably take you to the top. I had a mantra; breathe and believe.

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