Backcountry Tour Planning Webinar & Trip Planning Tools

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When conditions are prime for winter backcountry adventure, it’s easy to get caught up in the stoke and overlook essential pre-trip preparation in a rush to get on the skin track. In this webinar, guide and backcountry powder chaser, Elias Zane Holt, lays out how to plan a successful and safe trip into the mountains, with insider advice on digital mapping tools, gear selection, and other tools to help you style your next trip.

Here are some helpful links to trip planning resources that Elias mentioned during the webinar:

Online Message Boards + Trip Reports

Mapping + Tour Planning Apps 

  • Gaia GPS – Mapping app with slope angle shading, topo, satellite layering, and even snow depth and avalanche forecast overlays.
  • CalTopo – Mapping app that is great for pre-planning/plotting trips in advance with lots of functional layers like slope angle shading as well.
  • OnX Backcountry – Mapping app that comes with many backcountry tours already pre-loaded!
  • Guide Pace – Time planning for the mountains.

Guidebooks:

Weather Resources:

  • Windy – Weather radar, wind and waves forecast.
  • NOAA – Check out the point forecast feature.
  • Wunderground – Local & long-range weather forecasts, weather reports, maps & tropical weather conditions for locations worldwide.
  • Mountain Weather Lite – A selection of the most commonly used weather maps & forecast tools, all on one page.
  • WA Local Weather Station – Mountain weather forecast for WA.

Avalanche Education:

  • AIARE Level 1 – This comprehensive 24-hour course introduces students to the necessary decision-making tools for managing risk while traveling in avalanche terrain. It is designed for all individuals recreating on snow in the mountains whether skiing, split-boarding, snowshoeing, climbing, or mountaineering.
  • Know Before You Go – The program introduces you to avalanche safety with some simple steps you can take to stay safe and have fun in avalanche terrain.
  • Avalanche.org – Connects the public to formal avalanche information and education in the United States.  Find the avalanche encyclopedia here!

Don’t Forget to Check Driving Conditions! 

Intro to Backcountry Touring BLOG

  • Backcountry Tour Planning Webinar & Trip Planning Tools

    When conditions are prime for winter backcountry adventure, it’s easy to get caught up in the stoke and overlook essential pre-trip preparation in a rush to get on the skin track. In this webinar, guide and backcountry powder chaser, Elias Zane Holt, lays out how to plan a successful and safe trip into the mountains, […]

  • WHAT’S WEIGHING YOU DOWN? – TIPS TO KEEP YOUR SKI/SPLITBOARD PACK LIGHT

    by Jonathon Spitzer  Backcountry skiing and splitboarding encompasses a broad spectrum of ski endeavors, from off-piste riding out of a resort to ski day touring to overnight ski expeditions. I adjust my kit based on the type of skiing I’m doing, the same way you would when doing a day of top rope climbing versus […]

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