Making Decisions in the Backcountry

2013-07-27 18:11:26.000 – Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer

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After taking an AIRE Avalanche I class this winter, some of the most important material I learned wasn’t about avalanches themselves but rather decision making in the backcountry. Sometimes weather changes slowly and there are subtle clues that bad weather may be moving in. If you’ve ever been hiking before bad weather moves through, it’s easy to ignore what’s happening above you until you’re surrounded by fog, and possibly endangering yourself. Taking a notebook with you on your hike can allow you to jot down cloud cover, cloud types and any other significant meteorological observations. Of course, becoming familiar with different cloud types and their significance in changing weather can also be helpful.

After a beautiful and busy day on the summit, we are expecting another round of fog, precipitation and unsettled weather for the next few days. Stay safe and if you’re thinking about going out for a hike, be informed and check our 36 hour higher summits forecast, posted before 6 AM every morning. Even if you’re hitting the trail before then, you can call our weather phone (603-356-2137, option 1) from the mountain and hear the higher summits forecast.

Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer