A Dozen More Turns

It’s especially hard to resist the temptation of a fresh powder slope when you haven’t skied for six months. The anxious excitement from a fall spent ski dreaming has whipped your mind into a frenzy, and the last thing you want to do is turn away from the first untouched line of the winter, the one you’ve waited so long for.

The early season excitement can act like a blinder on your normal backcountry sense. That’s why it’s so important to keep your avalanche knowledge and backcountry protocol in mind at the same time you’re daydreaming about that first run.

If you’re in the Seattle area, kickstart your avy savvy for the season by attending the Northwest Snow and Avalanche Summit (NSAS) on Saturday with Karhu and NWAC. If you live in the Rockies, Wasatch, Sierra or elsewhere, check your calendar for an avalanche seminar in your neighborhood, or take a few minutes to watch Amber Seyler’s A Dozen More Turns.

Take 30 minutes to watch the film, and then send it to another backcountry skier you know. Seattle skiers, I hope to see you at NSAS on Saturday to hear Sam Kavanaugh (from A Dozen More Turns) talk about his experience.