Do you check the Avalanche Forecast before you ride?

[flying pig]

Now that I dont get to ride that often anymore it is really nice to have the avy reports. It allows me to keep track of some history for myself so that I can have an idea of what has happened in the past in the snowpack since I can't go out every weekend anymore and even once a month is getting to be a stretch. If some event happened early season I like to know about it. After all the weather on the prairie is rarely the same as the Rockies get. I've seen it +5*C up there and head down and its -30*C at home so its nice to have the reports. Plus I'm not really into digging a 15+ft deep pit to see all the history for the year when I do finally get to go out.

Its all about info. First hand is obviously best, but avy reports allow you to practice that history even more so you know what to watch for when you are out there.

 

[phatboyfilms]

Yup. A lot of times it's not very exciting but neither is holding ur breathe.....

 

[fonetikal]

of course, don't be stupid.

 

[Blown Motor]

Equally important as seeing a growing interest in avalanche activity and knowledge before you ride, I would have to say is readiness and awareness. Practice practice practice with your stuff. Know which pocket you tools are in, know where the handle to your shovel is, know how to use your beacon, how much battery you have. And KEEP IT ALL ON YOUR BODY!

 

[Lushbomb]

if its been snowing a lot i check.. conditions change through the day though, so if its been snowing a lot its good to be aware of the changes that have happened throughout the day.. this take on mountain experience. lots of it..

 

[ironxcross]

No I do not, never, I think that they can give you a false sense of security. I watch conditions where we are immediately riding.

IMO, it really doesn't do much good to dig pits either, conditions really do change form one bowl to another, and even from across in the SAME bowl. You'd be diggign pits all day long.

Is this sarcastic? The reports, at least from UAC, are incredibly informative and tell you what to look out for and pay attention to.

And the purpose of a pit is so you can check the stability on that exact aspect and elevation... so you are correct it isn't relevant to the whole area you're riding, but still super valuable information. Odds are there's only a handful of suspect aspects you'll be riding, so just do a handful of pits around the elevation you'll be at and there ya go. And I'm not saying I dig pits every day, but you can't possible say they are a waste of time.

These things are incredibly valuable and important, like anything else you just need to use them correctly. This is why topics like this are sketchy for online forums, some guy will read what you said and figure he'll save himself some time and not check reports or dig pits. I'm sure you're completely competent in the backcountry, but there's no telling how incompetent some of the people reading your posts will be.