Rescue Skills & Surprise Powder Day - APEX Orca Shred

Split boarding starts becoming more feasible as the days are getting longer, but one thing we never have enough time for in the backcountry to practice our rescue skills as much as I would like. So today, Caspian and I head up the resort with our backcountry gear and shoot out of bounds near Lakeside Bowl on Blackcomb Mountain.

We got a little over eager with our snow pit and dug down past 2metres/ 6 1/2ft, mostly by accident. Our snowpack has been quite interesting this year which showed up in our cross section. Avalanche risk has been rising with the fluctuating weather and this was a perfect afternoon just before the snow came to try and keep our skills fresh.

The other bonus of digging a huge snow pit is the snow in the area looked like avalanche debris, having a somewhat realistic search area for searching with the transceiver is important. It continued snowing, getting heavier as the day went on, we left the area after spending 20 minutes just filling the hole back up.

Next day was a solid 15cm/ 6" powder day, still a little crusty but better than we've had in a while. Riding Andreas' new Lib Tech Apex Orca I using the bindings he provided without noticing a missing toe strap. Heading up from Creekside to Whistler's Roundhouse we spent a couple laps exploring Rat Fink area through the trees and under the Peak-2-Peak Gondola. The freezing level seemed to be affected just below the higher lifts (eg Emerald Express) with it quickly deteriorating below, which we found out trying some trees down to Garbanzo.

It was surprisingly empty, but the conditions have been challenging for a couple weeks so it's well known that a small dump wasn't gonna completely turn around the mountain. Cheeky powder lap through the terrain park and basically decided to call it a day. Thanks for everyone riding; Caspian, Brent, Eric and Austin.

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This is not an informational or educational video so please contact your local backcountry guides or search online for more information.

Lib Tech Apex Orca
https://www.lib-tech.com/apex-orca

evo: https://bit.ly/3p07yVW

Bindings http://bit.ly/2XZyarl

Jacket | Volcom TDS INF | https://bit.ly/2Kzltkf

Pants | Volcom Guide |​ https://bit.ly/3cJSh6i

Boots | Burton Photon | https://bit.ly/2K6JL4R

Backpack | DaKine Poacher 22L | https://bit.ly/35AphtH

Goggles | Oakley Air Brake XL | https://bit.ly/35AdR9g
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Gloves | Salmon Arms | https://www.salmonarms.com/

Socks | Dissent | https://bit.ly/3cMB10c

IG: @ chis.the.mountain.man

#blackcomb #snowboarding #whistlerblackcomb