By: Emily Simon If you’re anything like me, you identify as a badass woman who is obsessed with skiing and wants to get after it as much as possible. Unfortunately there is nothing badass about my income; I am a teacher and grad student who devotes a sizable chunk of every paycheck to getting after it in the mountains. There’s no denying that the cost of my favorite activities is STEEP. Because I love my job and don’t want to pursue a whole new career that might do a better job of funding my activities, I have had to come up with creative ways of obtaining good gear that will serve my ..read more

By:  Maya Schrager Until recently in my life I spent most of my time outdoors with male friends, they always seemed more knowledgeable and a more motivated to get outdoors than any females I knew. The term “you’re not like other girls” made me feel like one of the boys, I could keep up. I could rely on them to check avalanche reports, lead the hardest pitches, and take control. What I didn’t know was that I would have female partners come into my life who would empower me, encourage, and push me more than any of my previous partners. What is the significance of a partner in the ..read more

By Brooke WarrenEdited for posting by Eryka Thorley “I’m pretty psyched about the ratios out here,” Jill said while we skinned up Meadow Mountain in Minturn, CO to practice beacon searches. We were a group of five women led by a female instructor, and there was another avalanche class out there, also led by a female guide. Way to represent, ladies! We were taking an Avalanche Rescue Course with Backcountry Babes, a guiding service by women for women. Our group ranged from new backcountry travelers to women who were working toward professional certifications. We were snowmobilers, snowboard ..read more

By Alwyne ButlerEdited for posting by Eryka Thorley Our Backcountry Babes AIARE Rescue Course was an excellent refresher in avalanche rescue skills and I feel more prepared in the event of an avalanche. The curriculum is focused on the techniques required if burials occur, including beacon use, shoveling techniques, and probing systematically. Our instructor Emily created a space to discuss decision-making and preparedness also. I would recommend this course to anyone who travels in the backcountry.  Emily is a patient and approachable educator who delivers lessons with confidence. Being ..read more

Things you should know before you head out in the backcountry for the first time (& continue to remind yourself often)… Leave behind the lift lines and groomers for endless untouched powder. Whether you’re seeking a longer snow season than the resorts allow, fresh lines, or the most spectacular views you can imagine, backcountry touring has benefits for everyone’s desires. I’m sure the majority of you reading this are adrenaline junkie, thrill chasing, powder loving chicks just like myself. I am so stoked you are looking to take on a new adventure and I promise you won’t be disappointe ..read more

Deep Snow Immersion A lot of locations throughout the west are seeing huge snow totals this week.  With big snow comes big problems.  Backcountry problems are not just isolated into avalanches, deep snow immersion is a very real concern when we are talking about measuring snow by the feet. The main deep snow immersion problem is tree wells.  The branches of the tree extend out past the base and create an area where the snow does not  accumulate in about a 6 foot radius from the trunk of the tree (however wide the branches extend).  When a skier or snowboarder falls ..read more

Deep Snow Submersion A lot of locations throughout the west are seeing huge snow totals this week.  With big snow comes big problems.  Backcountry problems are not just isolated into avalanches, deep snow submersion is a very real concern when we are talking about measuring snow by the feet. The main deep snow submersion problem is tree wells.  The branches of the tree extend out past the base and create an area where the snow does not  accumulate in about a 6 foot radius from the trunk of the tree (however wide the branches extend).  When a skier or snowboarder f ..read more

Colorado’s Persistent Slab Problem Its no secret that Colorado typically has an unstable snowpack and this year is no exception.  Colorado has a deep persistent slab that has been making backcountry travel dangerous and more difficult than normal.  In this video, by the Colorado Avalanche Info Center, it really demonstrates how sensitive that layer truly is.  If you are traveling in Colorado, make sure you check the forecast and stick to low angle terrain and away from runouts. What is a persistent slab avalanche? Persistent Slab avalanches can be triggered days to weeks a ..read more

There are quite a few AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research) training courses available.  And, for the most part, you must complete them in order since one is usually a prerequisite for another.  AIARE has three different levels of training:  Recreational; Professional; Instructor.  With Backcountry Babes, we only offer the Recreational AIARE classes. Avalanche Rescue Course AIARE 1 AIARE 2 Avalanche Rescue Course AIARE Avalanche Rescue is a one-day stand alone course that is intended to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep abreast of ..read more

Early season snowpack tends to always be a little touchy, but this year we are seeing many areas plagued with a very dangerous persistent layer.  Colorado, California, Wyoming and Alaska have all reported a problematic weakness in the snowpack that has triggered avalanches bigger, wider and deeper than expected. Colorado As a continental region, Colorado has always had a notoriously unstable snowpack and this year is no exception.  It has been reported that this month alone is the single worst month for avalanches fatalities in the state’s history.  This may come as ..read more