Hannah Robinson
Hwood3@uwyo.edu
Tyler Thompson believes spending time learning in the outdoors is as important, if not more, than spending time learning in the classroom.
He spends his summers ascending mountains by climbing then returns to the same mountain ranges in winter to descend them on a snowboard. The senior wildlife biology and management major said he loves the outdoors, and spending time in the mountains during winter is like nothing else.
This season Thompson plans to take full advantage of the surrounding snow-covered mountains by snowboarding the backcountry terrain it provides.
Thompson and several others expect a typical season with a slow start in the backcountry around Laramie.
Thompson visited the Snowy Range Tuesday afternoon to discover “low-tide” conditions for his first ride of the season.
“I can usually get up there in mid-October,” Thompson, Outdoor Program trip leader and certified level one avalanche instructor, said. “So this is a very late start.”
Ranie Lynds, a geologist at the Wyoming State Geological Survey and Geology and Geophysics adjunct professor, said there is data verifying the season is off to a late start compared to years past.
“Snotel data from the area show the amount of water in the snow is about 50 to 75 percent of ‘normal,’” Lynds said. “This suggests that so far this season there is less snow on the ground at this time of the year than during past seasons.”
Backcountry telemark skier Jerry Hamann has been a ski patroller for 20 years and has taught avalanche awareness and rescue techniques for 15 years. He said he is hopeful for adequate snowfall to provide a good season and so are many of his peers.
“Some of the forecasts have us on the edge of a ‘normal to maybe higher than normal’ snowfall,” Hamann said. “That would be great if it happens.”
Lynds said she is unaware of what the conditions might be this winter; however forecasts she read are expecting less snowfall than usual in Wyoming. She said the decrease is not great enough to affect anyone’s skiing possibility.
Math Professor Myron Allen, an avalanche instructor for the Outdoor Programs and ski patrols, said he hopes for a great amount of snow and would like to see it fall sooner than later. He said with snow conditions it is always important to keep in mind what is going on below the surface. Avalanches are always something backcountry skiers and snowboarders need to be aware of, he said.
Weak layers will develop between now and January with shallow snow and cold nights, Allen said. These layers will most likely stay deep in the snow pack until mid-to late March.
“Between now and then people who ski or ride in the Rocky Mountain backcountry should exercise great caution when venturing into terrain steeper than 30 degrees, because they can trigger avalanches,” Allen said.
These conditions are typical of the local region and “a fact of life,” Allen added.
Thompson said because of avalanche threats, backcountry snowboarding and skiing should be a mental exercise just as much as physical exercise.
“I use a split-board, so that takes a little bit of time to get everything right to tour around,” Thompson said. “And once you get out there you need to dig snow pits to see what the structure is like.”
Skiers and snowboarders need to do procedure avalanche danger on their own because the danger can vary from area-to-area, Thompson said.
“The instability can change drastically within a hundred yards,” Thompson said. “You’re always digging and you’re always looking for signs of instability, and you’re evaluating your terrain.”
Never turning your brain off and being aware of your surroundings is critical, Thompson added.
Allen, Lynds, Hamann and Thompson said they all agreed that having education in avalanche awareness is the first step in backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
The UW Outdoor Program provides avalanche courses throughout the year with a weekend backcountry session in February.
Thompson added that if someone is interested in learning the backcountry a mentor is a good way to get started.
“It’s a great way to get into the backcountry,” Thompson added. “You can learn a lot from someone who is experienced and willing to teach you.”
