Introducing Kids to the Backcountry
I'm playing the long game when it comes to introducing my kids to the backcountry. The idea is for my kids (I have three boys, ages 11, 13, 15) to break trail for me when I'm an old man. That's solid parenting in my books!And - of course - I want them to have an opportunity to experience for themselves the magic of mountains in winter.
My son (then 13 years old) on his first ski tour, the classic toll road up Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks of northern New York. Jerry Isaak photo.Parents or guardians are faced with a range of questions when considering introducing kids to the backcountry:
Are they ready? What equipment should they use? Is it too risky? Where should we go?
My wife and I faced those same questions when thinking about bringing our children into the backcountry. As a ski guide and university-based professor of backcountry skiing I'm probably better prepared than most people are to answer those questions. However, kids (under 18) are different than young adults - and one's own children pose unique challenges as well as delights.
My oldest son (then 14) on his first ski tour, to the summit of Mt. Tod in the backcountry behind Sun Peaks Ski Resort. Jerry Isaak photo.When considering introducing kids to the backcountry it can be helpful to think of the process in the same way as you would plan for a single day ski tour.
- Start with the goal - not the objective.
- Choose objectives & terrain wisely.
- Listen to them (your touring partners).
- Make it fun!
What is the overall desired outcome? With kids in the backcountry the desired outcome could be simply spending time together outside, away from technology. Or it could be introducing them to an activity they can enjoy for a lifetime. Or it could be to show them an important part of your own life.
Any or all of the above goals could provide a positive focus for the activity and serve as a reminder of purpose. However, when objectives (a particular summit, tour, or ski line) become the focus, the activity of backcountry skiing becomes narrowed in a way that limits options and can create needless conflict. Keep the big picture in mind when introducing kids to the backcountry.
Choose objectives & terrain wisely.
Winter backcountry travel has inherent risks. Some of those risks may be - to some extent - unavoidable when backcountry skiing (cold, the possibility of falling on skis). However, if the big picture goals are driving the process you should be able to select objectives and terrain that significantly limit exposure to many of the risks of backcountry skiing.
Teaching children risk management is one of the benefits of introducing them to the backcountry. With his own kids, Will Gadd classifies risk into three general tiers based on the potential consequences: bumps and bruises, hospital, and death. When traveling with kids in the backcountry, help them to develop their competence by engaging in conversations about risk management and choose objectives and terrain wisely.
Listen to them.
Skiing in the backcountry with kids is not going to go well if it's all about the adults. Listen to the kids and adapt to their own goals and wants. This can be challenging for adults who are used to touring at their own pace and in their own direction!
Make it fun!
This is the long game. Make it fun and they'll want to keep coming back for more. Each kid is unique and will likely have their own idea of what is fun and what isn't. Figure out what makes backcountry skiing fun for them and you'll be far more likely to get them to come out touring again!
Touring with teenagers in Rogers Pass. Jerry Isaak photo.One of the better resources on "Introducing Kids to the Backcountry" that I've found online is a YouTube playlist created by G3 testers Jonathan Gormick and his son Rowan. In this seven-video series Jonathan and Rowan present educational content for families looking to introduce their children into the backcountry.
The video topics include: Preparing young skiers, evaluating terrain & routes, manageble risks, and more.
The videos are an excellent place to start (I've embedded the first video below). Click on the YouTube logo to go to the complete playlist - and remember,
- Start with the goal - not the objective.
- Choose objectives & terrain wisely.
- Listen to them (your touring partners).
- Make it fun!
Jerry Isaak is an Associate Teaching Professor and the program lead for ski touring in the Adventure Studies Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. He is an AMGA certified Ski Guide and has guided backcountry ski adventures in Iceland, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, and throughout the United States and western Canada.