Low-risk avalanche areas

M

Millie Cosse

Hello,

I am a New Mexican heading up to Idaho this winter and I am hoping to get a bit of AT skiing done. I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations for low-avalanche risk and nothing insanely technical. I have a decent amount of experience at ski areas, but I have extremely limited backcountry knowledge. Any suggestions would be a huge help!

(I'll be staying near Priest River, ID and can drive up to 4 hours)

Thank you!
 
teledance

teledance

Salmo/ Creston aka Kootenay pass Aaron posted a Trip report for the area that covers it ptetty wrll. but you need a passport for Canada. Another west of you in WA, blanking on name.
Not much access without a sled some options going to 49N which is close to PR.
 
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Skibumhiggins

Skibumhiggins

First let me recommend getting some basic Avalanche training, the website whiterisk.org and kbyg.org are good places to start. I work for Schweitzer ski patrol and we do transceiver sundays so you can practice with your beacon and IPAC offers some Avalanche awareness class's throughout the winter. All of these resources shouldn't cost you anything and they will help make you aware of when your about to leave "low risk terrain" and enter high consequences terrain. After you do all that there is some great low angle skiing off of Schweitzer in the backcountry but you need a pass/ticket to get to it otherwise I second the recommendation for kootenay pass.
 
Skibumhiggins

Skibumhiggins

Millie Cosse said:
Thank you guys so much! Is there anything around Schweitzer that doesn't require a lift ticket?
Click to expand...
There isn't a lot of touring around Schweitzer without a ticket and there is a no uphill traffic policy in the resort boundary. You can tour outside the boundary on the south end to get to some good low angle terrain but parking can be a problem around the condos over there and you would want to go with someone who knows the area, we get calls from lost skiers in that area quite a bit. But once you figure it out it can be pretty fun.
 
Tiny World

Tiny World

IMHO I agree with SKhiggins on getting some technical background...You can definitely get some good lower angle stuff out of Schweitzer without a ticket. The best way is via the Spires development or head up from Fire Station. Nothing is without risk however. Wandering too far down a drainage...over the wrong ridgetop...can cause you a lot of grief. Bring gear to spend a night, not just a water bottle and some gorp...Lookout Pass, which is farther, has some nice gentle terrain right across freeway from the ski resort. Mt. Spokane has the least avy danger...Find a mentor, going by yourself without the proper knowledge usually will end up badly. Kootenay Pass has some gentle, but lots of slopes that are avy prone. Mother Nature can be beautiful, but unforgiving at times...
 
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