9/20/2023 0 Comments M.e.a.t. risk![]() ![]() In the backcountry that equation is not so precise, it can be surprising at best and fatal at worst. In the world of finance, risk means precise mathematical assessment of probability. So how shall we deal with the frequent exposure to risk we find ourselves when out in the mountains? What is risk? Risk is the potential of a chosen action or activity to go wrong. And in this segment of that business, when you blow a call, you don’t just lose the deal, or lose money, you can lose your life. We all know the goal out there is to have fun, however, as a friend of mine is fond of saying, we pro skiers are in the “Business of Fun.” But often times I tell people that being a professional skier, guide, and alpinist, means that you are in the business of risk management. The only solution is to make the right call at the right time and even then Mother Nature has a diabolical way of reminding us that we don’t know as much as we think we do. It came down to poor decision-making and bad timing. This slope likely would have been fine in the morning, prior to the sun warming it. For example one avalanche rescue I was involved in last year was where a group skied a southeast face on a hot afternoon and one member paid with his life. I see people make bad decisions in low-risk situations and get away with it and I see people make sensible decisions at the wrong time and pay with their lives. Success in the mountains is all about good decision-making and good timing. It is easy to overlook that these experiences don’t come without risk and understanding risk and how to manage it is fundamental to one of my favorite words – longevity. The physical activity, the bonding with friends and mountains can quickly become habitual. The freedoms and emotions we all experience high in the mountains are exhilarating and the adrenaline rush of a ski descent only adds to this feeling. As we enter another backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering season and with a few deadly winters behind us, I feel compelled to share some of the safety-related conversations that have been occurring with more increased frequency each year.Īs a backcountry skier or snowboarder chances are it’s the simple experience of being “out there” that keeps you coming back time and time again. Most people aren’t out there to make money- yet they are willing to take fantastic risks. We don’t need to expose ourselves to the risks associated with mountains, yet we do it anyway. We go to the mountains for countless reasons: spiritual well-being and enlightenment, physical challenge and demand, beauty and adrenaline, we go because the mountains call to us as humans. ![]()
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