Backcountry Skiing near Mosquito Pass

During this 2009 Spring Brian, while taking his regular online classes, took Avalanche Safety Level I and II Classes from Colorado Mountain College (CMC). During our years on the WSCMRT Rescue Team at Western State College, we did have training in avalanche behavior and rescue, and completed an AVY I course. Our AVY I instructor, and fellow teammate, for some reason ended up not being able to officially teach this class or something of the like, so we ended up not getting "certificates". When Brian took the classes from CMC he was well prepared and ahead of most of the class! Several of the instructors for the AVY classes were from Crested Butte Mtn. Guides, which gave Brian confidence knowing the elite qualities that CBMG requires will be carried through to his experience!

During his second class, Brian took me up to one the of areas he had gone with his AVY II class a couple days prior, where he shared with me some of the advanced skills and knowledge he had learned. To practice and compare with conditions earlier, Brian built another pit to evaluate the snowpack. This picture is from the hike up looking West back toward Leadville.

Thanks to our Pro Deals from working at The Trailhead, we were fortunate to purchase some quality backcountry equipment at killer prices. Having quality gear really makes a difference! Here's an Avalung Black Diamond (BD) pack, probe, shovel, and ski pole along with a foldable measuring stick.

Here's Brian's BD Verdict Telemark Skis with Glidelight Skins on hanging out while he sets up to dig his snow pit.

Measuring the appropriate length and width before digging using his avalanche probe.

And, the digging begins. I was rather cold at this point, and yes I realize digging would have warmed me up, however I wanted to watch the newly trained grasshopper practice his skills.

It's highly important to have as straight and smooth walls in your pit as possible. You see Brian carefully cutting down the back side of the wall. Building/evaluating a pit is not a quick task, it is something that you need to allow no less than an hour to complete for accurate results.

Our ski down was not something to talk much about, it was crusty snow making it rather difficult to smoothly cut back and forth upon our descent. Plus, I caught a tree with my board and ended up face planting down hill in about 4 feet of snow. Let's just say I was rather glad to get down and back to the car, as evident on the smile on my face, where I could get WARM. Overall it was a great backcountry trip!