The Best New Year’s Resolutions For Backcountry Skiers
Happy New Years! It’s time to set your New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year. Choose wisely and this could be the best year of your life.
New Year’s resolutions are a popular tradition where you set goals for yourself for the next twelve months. The goals can be something you want to accomplish, learn, improve, add to your routine, or tick off. Set realistic goals and strive to achieve them. You’ll be stoked when you follow through with your skiing resolutions.
It’s good to have goals. Start your new year off right with some of the best New Year’s resolutions for backcountry skiers:
- Ski More – Everyone wants to ski more, so make it happen. Is this going to be the year you get 50 days? 100 days? 200 days? Get out as much as possible. It’s good for you.
- More Human Powered Vertical – How many vertical feet are you going to gain and ski this year? 10K? 50K? 100K? 250K? Or are you going to shoot to beat Greg Hill’s record and try to beat 2 million vertical feet? Earning your turns is definitely good for you.
- Ski In A New Mountain Range – There’s nothing like knowing a mountain range like the back of your hand, but get out and explore a new zone. Take a road trip and head to the Tetons, Sierra, Cascades, Selkirks, or San Juans. It’s cool to make turns in a new playground and you’ll be amazed at how it will change your perspective on everything. (Browse backcountry skiing guide books.)
- Get In Shape – Want to go bigger, explore deeper, and journey longer? Build your endurance. Get stronger. Walk uphill more. Ski harder. Being in shape is a total game changer for your backcountry adventures. (Read this book.)
- Buy New Gear – Is it time to ditch the Alpine Trekkers and make the move to Dynafits? Looking for a lightweight ski-mo ski? Thinking about an avalanche airbag pack? Update your quiver and upgrade your gear. New backcountry gear will make a world of difference and it will allow you to enjoy your mountain playground even more. (Shop For Backcountry Gear)
- Improve Your Beacon Skills – Everyone can benefit from more beacon practice. Go out on a regular basis to practice with your partner. Bury beacons and get your search on. Practice single, multiple, and complex avalanche burial situations. It’s a skill that can and will save lives.
- Find A New Backcountry Buddy Who You Trust – One of the hardest parts of exploring the backcountry is choosing a backcountry ski partner that you can trust with your life. Explore your options and try to expand your network of skiing friends. The more people you know, the more you can ski in the backcountry.
- Take An Avalanche Course – If you haven’t already taken an avalanche course, take one. If you have a level 1, take a level 2. Always strive to improve your snow and avalanche knowledge. It’s fun to dig in the snow, but it can also help you make educated decisions on what to ski and what not to ski. (Take an avalanche course.)
- Protect Our Winters – It’s safe to say that climate change is a real thing. What are you doing to protect our winters?
- Ditch The Bad Habits – Backcountry Magazine once posted an article by Andrew McLean about bad backcountry skiing habits. We all have stupid, bad habits in the backcountry. Be aware of your bad habits (skiing your Dynafit bindings in lock mode, putting a beacon on your dog, skipping the beacon check, not digging a snow pit, not turning off your cell phone, bailing at the last minute, poorly timed solo missions, and the list goes on). It’s time to make some changes.
- Go On More Hut Trips – Hut trips rule. Find a hut system near you and book a night or two. Huts and yurts are one of the best ways to experience the mountains.
- Check Off Your Personal Tick List – Every backcountry skier has a list of peaks they dream of skiing or a list of personal goals they want to achieve. This is the year to get ‘er done. What’s on your list?
The most challenging part of New Year’s resolutions is sticking to them. If you really want to achieve your goals tell everyone. Be public with your goals and have someone hold you accountable. Tell us your goals in the comments below. We’ll do our best to help you achieve them this year.
Your safety is ultimately way more important than your goals. Always adequately assess risk and be safe in the mountains.
Cheers to earning your turns in the New Year!
