37. Youth in the Backcountry

The Fine Line

How does a young person gain access to the backcountry? How do they do it safely? What happens when their Instagram feed is taken over by high flying stunts instead of avalanche awareness? How do they navigate not just the unforgiving wilderness, but life during the pandemic? What should parents and leaders in snow safety know about how kids approach avalanche terrain? To get a better understanding of what young people think about going into the backcountry, we invited three Jackson Hole teenagers into the conversation. Thanks to Soraya Ziem, Ryan Millham, and Zack Little for the discussion. Show Notes The most important thing anyone can do before they go into the backcountry is get a formal avalanche education. Our guests achieved this through different youth programs offered in Jackson Hole. BackcountryZero.com/winter has a full list of resources on where you can get an avalanche education. The Jackson Hole Ski Club Backcountry Program is in its second year. Info: https://jhskiclub.org/backcountry Jackson Hole High School Mountaineering Club has introduced hundreds of kids to backcountry safety over the years. You can find a great video about the Mountaineering Club on their Facebook page. Info: https://www.tcsd.org/Athletics/Sport/41 Coombs Outdoors offers children from low-income households the opportunity to access skiing and other outdoor activities all year long. Info: https://www.coombsoutdoors.org Volunteer survey-takers, like Ryan Millham, have recorded data about backcountry habits from more than 3,000 people since 2016. Find out more about this program in the 5-year Backcountry Zero Review, published in December 2020. The review also includes information about the popular What’s In Your Pack classes. Subscribe to the TCSAR Foundation newsletter so you can be notified of when these classes are offered. They always fill up fast. Info: http://www.tetoncountysar.org/rescue-reports Interview by Matt Hansen. Editing by Melinda Binks.