Winter in Australia's backcountry.

Winter in Australia's backcountry.

I had a great conversation with a friend and former colleague today. Someone I truly respect and have learned much from about our mountains and continue to do so. It certainly got me thinking and touched a nerve about where some of the industry is going and claiming to be.

Winter here has a beauty all of it's own. In a country associated with beaches and hot summers, we have some unique and ancient mountains that see snow by some pure miracle of nature.

It's that time of the year, as the resort workers start pouring into town before the school holiday mayhem, the snow predictions fly along with the winter movie releases and social media hype seems to be non-stop.

The past few years, that's included a lot of talk about the backcountry. I love that people are talking more about it, exploring it and appreciating a bit of our unique Aussie nature. But we aren't talking about something new here. Many people have been traversing these mountains for decades, and they have many stories to share with the new generation of enthusiasts. I urge you to listen to them and heed their wealth of knowledge.

I want you to have that real conversation. To respect and enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures, being out in the mountains. To learn from those who have come before. To soak it up and come back for more.

One of the best approaches I want to share with you is one of calm, measured caution. Of understanding your human heuristics, your habits. Of making long-term, low-risk decisions and practicing patience. Live to ski many years, to see multiple winters and enjoy the multitude of changes they produce as you grow your skills and knowledge year after year.

You see, the thing about our mountains are that they hold some steep terrain, yet avalanches are not your primary concern. The avalanche course you just took is a nice start but is merely a small piece of the risk management pie in your backcountry pursuits. Accessing that terrain often requires a long approach and a bit of effort to get to. On your way out there, you're about to find out that there's two very important things that will catch you out if you're not ready for them.

The first very real risk is surface conditions. It's variable in every sense of the word. From last seasons solid ice to punchy spring slush, rime, hoar frosts, spring corn and everything in between. You can have some blissful turns on one aspect and be praying for it to end as you turn the corner.

Your skiing/riding ability will be tested and you need to be prepared to say "not today". Even the very best snow-riders know that sometimes, it's just not worth it. Come back another day. More people have a bad day here in the mountains by injuring themselves from falling than almost everything else combined. And when it's away from the resort, there is no ski patrol coming for you and rescue may take a lot longer than you think. If it's during a stint of bad weather it's going to be a really long day (and possible night) You need to take responsibility for yourself and your party.

The other big factor in your day is weather. The Main Range loves a white out and a really good blow. You haven't experienced windy until you've been high on the range when it's gusting so hard you can't stand up. And if it isn't cloudy or windy just yet, just wait an hour or two. Hypothermia and navigational challenges (read: getting lost) are very, very real. Vertigo in a complete white out truly sucks and will ruin your day.

Getting caught out in less than perfect conditions as the cold fronts move, where slightly warmer precipitation (read: rain or wet snow) often comes with quite a bit of wind before we get any real cold snow here, it's less than fun and you better be sure you're dressed for the occasion with an option for shelter. It's a recipe for hypothermia. Cold, wet, windy, in every sense of the word.

Did you ever stop to read the stories of why the mountains have the old huts scattered amongst them? Go read the story of Laurie Seaman, or even better, for some recent context, have a chat with the awesome local emergency services who are often called each winter to rescue someone in the middle of the night who has decided that they are sufficiently cold and wet and over the wind and that they need rescuing. (Side note, buy these people a coffee and say thanks for what they do.) They all have a story.

Ask the long term locals. There are scores of cross country and backcountry skiers who have been all over this mountain range for literal decades, who all have stories of being caught by weather and can attest to how wild it can get.

If you've read this far, you are my kind of people. I hope to see you out enjoying the range as it gets its white coat on.

Let's have the conversation and share the love of enjoying the mountains, of seeing sunrises and sunsets over untracked lines, of sharing the stories of a fun day tour or that trip to the next peak.

I also hope to see you enjoying it again well into the future. Please have a fun and safe winter.

Matt.