To any new members: Welcome!

Hey all, thanks heaps for putting together this site and the related resources. I just moved to Moscow about 6 months ago and use the Pandhandle Backcountry Weather and Webcams page pretty much every week. So far I've just just been touring at Freezeout, Kootenay Pass, and the Wallowas, but I'm looking for spring trip ideas around St Regis Basin, the Selkirks, and especially the Cabinets.
Its great to see this much backcountry energy up here in a place that gets so little outside attention! Cheers.
 

PowderPanda

Staff member
Hey all, thanks heaps for putting together this site and the related resources. I just moved to Moscow about 6 months ago and use the Pandhandle Backcountry Weather and Webcams page pretty much every week. So far I've just just been touring at Freezeout, Kootenay Pass, and the Wallowas, but I'm looking for spring trip ideas around St Regis Basin, the Selkirks, and especially the Cabinets.
Its great to see this much backcountry energy up here in a place that gets so little outside attention! Cheers.
Tamaral,
Awesome, glad to hear!
Also, keep a look out when we start following the Glacier Park Going-To-The-Sun Road (GTSR) late Spring.. Great late season touring up there!

Cheers,
PP
 
Hello Panhandle backcountry.

Myself and my partber arevtravelling through and currently at Scweitzer mountain. Looking at doing some back coubtry but we are new to the area. Looking snow report information and where we cab head for a little back country in the area. Also keen dor a snow kite if anyone does that around here....
 
Thanks for pulling together this site, it looks like a great resource! I just moved to Moscow a month ago and am looking forward to exploring the area.
 

PowderPanda

Staff member
Hello Panhandle backcountry.

Myself and my partber arevtravelling through and currently at Scweitzer mountain. Looking at doing some back coubtry but we are new to the area. Looking snow report information and where we cab head for a little back country in the area. Also keen dor a snow kite if anyone does that around here....

Steph,
@base815 does snow kite. He just posted on the Great White Death tour report with BigZ.
The Schizz has good easy access backcountry off of it.. Search the Tour Reports for more info on Schizz.
We are often asked about easy stuff... well, this is North Idaho.. if you have a sled you can reach great easy stuff.
Otherwise a lot off of resorts backcountry or off of I-90 in the lookout pass area.
Checking the Tour Reports for info can be found there.

Welcome to the neighborhood.. It's def an area that takes a little bit of pre-planning here. But it can go a long ways!

Cheers,
PP
 

PowderPanda

Staff member
Thanks for the website. We are visiting in March from Alaska. Any recommendations on a good zone to start? I have +10years experience...my husband is new to backcountry skiing.
Michelle,
Awesome! Welcome to the land of plenty!
Well, the one thing about North Idaho is having a sled get's you to a lot of the prime terrain.
That said, Lookout Pass has the easiest access areas (search in Tour Reports), the most important thing is knowing how far back not to go in the basins due to avy terrain. Since your husband is new, the terrain on the North side of the hiway (we call the Training Grounds, otherwise known ass the FAA towers) has super easy access and nice terrain.
Also, a lot of the resorts have some easy access outside of them (Lookut pass you can get a $9 one way ticket to the top and head back (again too far back requires full avalanche knowledge).
Schweitzer Mtn has great stuff as well (there is a map of that terrain in Tour Reports as well).
I will note, typically in March things stabilize nicely, depending on if we have new storms, again Level I or II avy knowledge would be preferential there.

Cheers,
PP
 
thank you powder panda for the beta. it's very helpful. we were planning on spending time at schweitzer...so will tack on an extra day to explore backcountry. I couldn't find the map you spoke of? Also....is there backcountry skiing close to spokane?
 
Welcome to Panhandle Backcountry! (You can introduce yourself in this thread!)


PanhandleBackcountry is a community of backcountry skiers and splitboarders in North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Northwestern Montana. Thanks for joining us and please participate in our forums where you can organize tours and events, check trip reports and route information, share snowpack observations and conditions, and talk about or trade your gear locally.

First things first..
Safe travel in the backcountry is of utmost importance:

Before you go make sure your group has the skills, knowledge and training to travel in avalanche terrain. Read the local avalanche advisory and always carry a shovel, probe and transceiver (plus cell phone and airbag). Be sure to check out our “Be Avalanche Aware” section with a full list of local avalanche education courses available and other avalanche safety tips and resources: http://www.panhandlebackcountry.com/safety/

Fill out your profile:

You can do this by clicking on your own username at page header or browsing to: http://www.panhandlebackcountry.com/account/

Upload an avatar and please fill out your profile as completely as possible, especially the "Training and Experience" section! This gives others an understanding of what level of backcountry experience you have. That way one can properly route find for each individual that may be in a group. Don't forget other sections like what gear you're rocking! Many people have questions about gear and if they see what you use, they may have questions as to what your thoughts on the gear is. Profiles can only be viewed by other logged-in members.

Get the weather forecast quickly:

We’ve compiled a list of weather forecasts and resources relevant to backcountry skiing and splitboarding in our area. Browse to http://www.panhandlebackcountry.com/weather/ to view time-lapse webcams, live weather data, SNOTEL reports, forecasts, radars and more. Local and regional avalanche advisories are also included on this page (as well as right on the homepage!)

Share a trip report:

Have you been out lately? Consider sharing your photos, conditions, pit data, beta or story with the rest of the community in the 'Trip Reports' forum. Reports can be as simple as a couple notes on conditions to full epic stories with several photos and video — the more information the better, but anything is helpful! Trip Reports are only viewable to logged in members. Collaborative knowledge can increase all members’ experience in the backcountry!

Connect with tour partners:

The backcountry is better with friends! If you’re looking to get out with others post in the 'Tour Partners' forum and link up with others. The more information you include on the tour or partners you’re seeking the better. It’s also a good idea to include your level of training and experience (and an acknowledgement you have the necessary gear) here if you’re new to the community.

Suggestions:

This community was built by a backcountry skier and splitboarder for our peers: skiers and splitboarders. We value suggestions and input from members and use them to shape the future of Panhandle Backcountry accordingly!

Stickers:

Want a free Panhandle Backcountry sticker to rock on your boards, nalgene or roof box? We have a couple different styles of die cut stickers to share! Send a private message to PowderPanda or me (idsnowghost) with your mailing address, or if local we can make arrangements to meet up. You can also buy stickers directly from our printer here! (we don't set the prices nor get a cut)

Thanks again for joining us! Please feel free introduce yourself to the community in this thread or ask any questions! Welcome!

Thanks for creating this site. Lot's of good info on here. Stoked for some more backcountry skiing options!
 
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